Toy balloon tire wheel



. April 9, 1935. F 1I MERZ9 JR, Er AL 1,997,115

TOY BALLOON TIRE WHEEL Filed June l, 1954 gwuwntovs Ml Fran/Cd.'McrJ,r/I.' Cla'yan B. Merry Patented Apr. Y9, 1935 Frank J. Merz', Jr.,and Clayton B.

Seattle, Wash.;

Merry,

Application June 1, 1934, Serial No. 728,530

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to toy balloon tire wheels and constructionmethods, and Vcertain objects of the invention are to provide, as anarticle of manufacture, a toy balloon tire Wheel that is ex- 5 tremelylight in Weight and which is particularly adapted for use on `model andtoy airplanes. Further objects are to provide a novel and inexpensivemethod for constructing toy balloon tire Wheels. Y

With the above and other objects in view which Will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction,adaptation, combination, arrangement and method hereinafter describedand claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated intheaccompanying drawing; wherein:

Figure 1 is a group View in central vertical section showing thedifferent elements arranged in their relative positions for the firststep lin the assemblage of the tire wheel; FiggZ is a corresponding viewshowing the second step in the method of assembling the wheel; Fig. 3 isacorresponding view showing the third and final step in the assemblageof the wheel; and Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation of the completedtire wheel.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates an ordinarytoy balloon that is-made of thin rubber and is partly inflated.Theballoon has the usual neck 6. The iirst steps in assembling the tireWheelV consist in passing the neck 6 through a central hole 'I in afemale hubr member 8 to a point where the neck joins the main body ofthe balloon, and in coating the interior Wall of the balloon, at thispoint', with liquid cement or other adhesive material as shown at 9 inFig. 1 ofthe drawing.

'I'he secondstep in the method of assembling the Wheel consists inpressing the smaller end of a male hub member I0 against the centralouter end portion II of the balloon 5'that is opposite to the neck 6 andin forcing said portion inwardly and through the hole 1 in the female"hub member 8 and into the neck 6 where said portion contacts with theadhesive material 9 and is thereby cemented all around to the inside ofthe neck as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In this operation, the

male hub member I 0 is jammed tightly into the female hub member 8 whereit remains fixed, and the body portion of the balloon 5 is convertedinto an annular pneumatic airtight tire I2.

In the third step of the method, the outer end of the portion II of theballoon which projects through the hole I in `thefemale hub member 8,together with the neck 6, is trimmed off flush with the coinciding endsof the male and female hub members 8 and I 0. A thin hub cap I3 is thencemented or glued to said coinciding or flush hub ends. A small hole I4extendsV centrally through the male hub member and cap for use ininstalling the wheel on the thin axle of a model ortoy airplane as Vwillbe understood.' Adhesive Y material may also be usedv on outsideportions of the balloon 5 for Vsecuring the male and female hub membersin place'if desired. A

The hub members 8 andV IIIand thehub cap I3 may Abermade of balsam orother light wood, or

they may be made of thin hollov,r aluminum ory other material of Vverylight weight. The thin toy balloon, also being of exceedingly lightWeight, makes the entire' device extremely light and particularlyadapted for use on model and toy airplanes, The method of assembling orconstructf' ing the wheelsis quitevsimple and comparativelyinexpensive,Y and provides a pneumatic toy wheel and tire that isairtight, durable and serviceable for use on model and toy airplanes.Having thusY described our invention, what wey claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:- A 1 n 1. An. articleof manufacture comprisinga partly inflated thin rubber Vtoy balloonhaving a neck joined thereto,V a female hub member encircling the pointof joinder of theballoon and neck, the central `outer end portion of theballoonV opposite the neck pressed into and extended through the portionof the neck that is encircled by the female hub member, means forsecuring said balloon portion within said neck portion to form an airtight connection, a male hub member extended into said balloon and neckportions and extending through and flush kwith the end of the female hubmember, said balloon and neck 1 Yportions also terminating flush withthe flush ends of said male and female hub members, a hub cap secured tothe flush ends of said male and female hub members, and said male hubmember and hub cap having a trally therethrough.

2. An article of `manufacture comprising a partly inflated toyballoonhaving a short neck, a female hub member encircling the shortneck, the central outer end portion of the balloon extending into theneck and secured therein to form an air tight annular tire of theballoon, and a male hub member extendinginto` said shortA neck, balloonportion and female hub member.

ing a short neck, and the. central outer end por-` tion of the balloonextending into the neck'and secured therein to form an air tight annulartire.

Y FRANK L. MERZ, JR.1

CLAYTON B. MERRY.

3. As'an article of manufacture, a toy balloonY small hole extendingAcen-

